If love is a pill, and marriage an injection with big side effects, then what is the right prescription for girls' self-determination in India today?
Set against the city of Chennai in India the film intimately observes the options and perspectives of young women at "Paadhai", a home for disadvantaged girls offering shelter, learning and self-empowerment. Highlighting their insights into their situations, marked by real-life pressures and societal norms, the film's narrative unfolds through a series of storylines as we watch the characters share their personal stories, exploring tough challenges, hope, pain, love and marriage.
Crew
Director: N. Preston
Production: N. Preston
Editors: M. B. Lima, A. Zitzmann, C. Kittel
Distribution: Journeyman Pictures
Awards:
• 62nd DOK LEIPZIG, FILM PRIZE LEIPZIGER RING, audience award for an outstanding documentary film about human rights, democracy or civil engagement
• 8th FIDBA, Competition Award Section Gender and Generations
Screenings in numerous international film festivals.
working as a freelance film editor in Berlin since 2014
in German, English, French, Spanish, Catalan
member of German Film Editors Association (BFS) and German Documentary Association (AG DOK)
experience in independent feature films and creative documentaries
along with collaborations on artistic, experimental, research, and educational projects
guest lecturer and editing consultant at Academy of Media Arts Cologne, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and LabAV "Contested Territories" (EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme)
closely engaged with organizations and projects dedicated to advancing social, political, historical, and artistic issues
art history and economics studies / master degree in film editing by Catalonia’s Film School (ESCAC)
always driven by a deep passion for cinema and the art of storytelling
editing is a powerful force for shaping the world
it embodies awareness, sharing, empathy, understanding, collaboration, lifelong learning
film editor
filmography -selection
* Lichter und Schatten, M. Papadopoulos, feature, 90 min., work in progress
* Literature or life, ARTE La Lucarne/Agat Films/Watchmen, documentary form, 75 min., in postproduction
* A place in the city, documentary form, C. Territories/Ciudades Sin Miedo/G. Silvestre, 60 min., release: Malmö Latin America Film Festival 2025
* First Taste, S. Gajewski/M. Krmek, BKM, documentary form, 30 min., Award: Best Focus on innovation at the 4th WORLD FOOD FORUM (WFF) FILM FESTIVAL 2024 - nominated for the DOK Talent Award at DOK.forum DOK.Fest Munich 2023
* In deinen Händen, Academy of Media Arts Cologne/S. Dettmar, BKM, documentary form, 66 min., release: Film Festival Max Ophüls Preis 2023
* El murmullo de la marimba, Academy of Media Arts Cologne/G.-M. Becker, Film und Medienstifung NRW, documentary form, 79 min., release: 54th Int. Hofer Filmtage 2020 - Awards: Best feature documentary, FESTIVAL DE CINE LATINO AMERICANO - TEXAS NORTH&SOUTH; Special Mention of the Jury for the preservation of intangible heritage, 10th FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE DOCUMENTAL ACAMPADOC
* Haus der Trinker (Last house), Sevenpeaks film&impact/RBB/BKM, documentary form, 90 min., in postproduction
* Cities of ghosts and angels, K. Schröter, documentary form, 78 min., release: 22. Achtung Berlin Filmfestival 2026
Role: Co-Editor
* Langhans - Ein letzter Dokumentarfilm, doc-fiction, Conrad & Papadopoulos, 80 min., release: 59th Int. Hofer Filmtage 2025
* Mutantin, S. Ortiz/A. Schumacher, documentary form, 64 min., release: Film Festival Max Ophüls Preis 2025
* Sexploration - wie will’s wirklich?, Academy of Media Arts Cologne/L. Zielke, documentary form, 90 min., release: 58th Int. Hofer Filmtage 2024
Role: Co-Editor
* Eine Hand, die Andere, L. Fichter/J. Westphal/Sevenpeaks, documentary form, 70 min., release: Manhattan Independent Film Festival 2023, VoD
* Girls of Paadhai, N. Preston, documentary form, 90 min., release: DOK Leipzig 2019 - Awards: Leipziger Ring at DOK Leipzig; best documentary FIDBA, section Gender and Generations, VoD
Role: Co-Editor
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